Whatever Happened to Janie? (The Face on the Milk Carton) (Janie, #2)

by Caroline B. Cooney

In the vein of psychological thrillers like We Were Liars, Girl on the Train, and Beware That Girl, bestselling author Caroline Cooney’s JANIE series delivers on every level. Mystery and suspense blend seamlessly with issues of family, friendship and love to offer an emotionally evocative thrill ride of a read.


As Janie Johnson glanced at the face of the ordinary little girl on the milk carton, she was overcome with shock. She recognized that little girl—it was she. How can it possibly be true? But it is.

With the mystery of her kidnapping now unraveled, Janie's story continues, and the nightmare is not over. No one can bring back or relive the 12 years gone by. The Spring family wants justice, but who is really to blame? The Johnsons know that they must abide by the court decisions made, but it's difficult to figure out what's best for everyone.

Janie Johnson or Jenny Spring? Who is she? Certainly there's enough love for everyone, but how can the two separate families live happily ever after?

• ISBN10: 0385742398
• ISBN13: 9780385742399
• Publish Date: 22 May 2012 (first published 1 May 1993)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Ember
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 224
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780385742399

Reviews

[Whitney @ First Impressions Reviews]

After recognizing her face on a milk carton Janie Johnson has been reconnected with her biological family and is facing an identity crises. Is she Janie Johnson or Jennie Spring?

The Springs, are decent people who had the worst luck fall upon them, obviously after hearing their daughter is alive and well welcome her back with open arms. Unfortunately, Janie is unwilling to except these changes and chooses to live in her seemingly perfect past. Most of the story revolves around Janie's adjustment, and whenever she takes one step forward, she takes two steps back. Just when I thought she was making progress and may end with a perfect family of seven she had to go do something stupid like instigate a fight. Moments like these brought the Spring's world crashing down once more and when there were no screaming matches the book was compiled of memories/flashbacks of the kidnapping and waves of tears.

I felt a big theme of Whatever Happened to Janie? was that "the grass is greener on the other side". From the minute Janie crosses the threshold to her new home she sees the drastic dissimilarities between the Johnsons and the Springs and yearns for her quite, simpler life in Connecticut. Because of these constant compressions Janie became Noname, weaving between two separate lives for which I felt sorry for. Then again, she reminded me of a three year old who isn't getting her way, stomping her foot until the adults finally give in. In the end there really is no winner here, everyone's lives were effected for better or for worse twelve years ago, and Jennie being found doesn't make it any easier. Whatever Happened to Janie is a powerful sequel to The Face on the Milk Carton.